A 24-year-old man, Luvo Nqetho, has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for the murder of a 61-year-old man, Sipho Damane, who had identified him to the police as a possible suspect in a case.
The judgement was handed down in the Lusikisiki Regional Court in the Eastern Cape.
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The incident took place in July 2022 when the police questioned Damane about Nqetho, who was a person of interest in an ongoing investigation.
Damane pointed out Nqetho to the police, but Nqetho deceived the detectives by claiming to be the brother of the person they were looking for. He accompanied them to a homestead he claimed they lived in.
However, Nqetho later returned to Damane and his friend, pulled out a firearm, and shot Damane nine times, killing him instantly. Nqetho spared his friend, stating that he respected him.
After fleeing the scene, Nqetho was on the run from the police for almost two months before being arrested in the neighbouring town of Flagstaff on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Four days before the trial began, Damane’s friend, Khayalethu Dulaze, who was a key witness, was murdered at his home by unknown gunmen.
Nqetho pleaded not guilty and reserved the basis of his defense. The court admitted Dulaze’s statement as written hearsay evidence, despite the defense’s opposition.
The court concluded that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Nqetho guilty.
During the court proceedings, the prosecutor argued that the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years was not enough due to the brutality and cruelty displayed by Nqetho. The court agreed and sentenced him to 18 years in jail.
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Barry Madolo, the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, commended the prosecutor and investigating officers for successfully prosecuting the case under challenging circumstances, especially considering the suspicious murder of the key witness.
This sentencing serves as a reminder that the justice system will not tolerate acts of violence and will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
